Apparatus for renewing the stern-bushings of ship propeller-shafts.



PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. SMITH. APPARATUS FQR RENEWING THE STERN BUSHINGS OF SHIP PROPELLER I S'HAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

A TTORNE Y5:

5 IN V535 OR B Y a WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

HERMAN SMITH, OF LUDl-NGTQN, MICHIGAN.

-. APPARATUS FOR RENEWING THESTERNBUSHINGS OF S HlP PROPELLER-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,036, dated October 25, 1904. Application filed SeptemberS. 1903. Serial No. 172,420. (No model.)

To (/11 7072 0771, it floaty cancer-71 Be it known that I, HERMAN SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ludington, county of-Mason, and Stateof Michigan,

have'invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Renewing the Stern-Bushings of Ship Propeller-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for renewing the shaft-bushings of ship-propellers.

The object of the invention is to avoid the expense and delay of putting the vessel in drydock. The invention contemplates the adjust' ment of a water-excludingchamber or so-called coffer-dam to the propeller-shaft and stern tube pending the removal and replacement of the bushing In the following description reference is had project rearwardly for a short distance at the.

- stern, as shown, the usual sectional bushings 6 being also illustrated. The coffer-dam is formed in sections 7 and 8, with apertures 9 and 10 in its respective sides at the meeting edges of said sections. The line of thejoint between said sections passes centrally through said apertures 9 and 10. The aperture 9 is larger than theaperture 10 and is adapted for the reception of the shaft-tube, which fits snugly in said aperture. The aperture 10 is of the same diameter as the shaft 2. When it is desired to replace the shaft-bushings 6, the vessel is tilted by loading the bow until and replaced by new bushings.

and Fig. 3 is a side view; of

the propeller-shaft is raised to a point at or near the surface of the water. The rear portion of the shaft is then uncoupled at 4: and

adjusted rearwardly in the tube 5, as shown inFig. 1, thus leaving a space between the propeller and the rear end of the said tube.

The section 8 is then removed. from the cofferdam and the section 7 floated under the shaft and adjusted to the shaft and stern-tube,

whereupon the section 8 is replaced and secured to the section 7 by bolts 11. The walls of the section 8 may, if desired, be made separable and secured together by bolts 12.

When the section 8 is secured by bolts 11 to the section 7 the side walls of the sections fit snugly around the shaft 2 and tube 5, respectively, and the section 8 is of sufficient height to project above the surface of the water. By pumping the water out of the receptacle the bushings 6 may be easily reached, removed, The nuts 13 of the bolts 11 may then be removed to per- -mit the separation and removal of the cofferdam sections, whereupon the shaft and propeller are again ad usted to normal position. The coffer-dam sections are preferably made of wood or other material buoyant in water,

whereby the lower or larger section 7 may be floated into position, the same being filled with water or weights to facilitate its adjustment underneath the shaft. The upper section 8 may be easilyv lifted and adjusted in position either integrally or by adjusting each 'wall separately, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a ship of a removable receptacle open at the top and located between the propeller-wheel and the stern wall of the ship, with the propeller-shaft extending through suitable apertures in the wall of the receptacle and with the shaft-tube fitting and projecting into the aperture'of the inner receptacle-wall. f

2. The combination with a ship, of a removable receptacle located between the propellerand the lower section being formed of buoyant Wheel and the stern wall of the ship, with the material. 10 propeller-shaft extending through suitable ap- In testimony whereof laflix my signature in ertures in the wall of the receptacle and with the presence of two witnesses. 5 the shaft-tube fitting and projecting into the HERMAN SMIT] l.

aperture of the inner receptacle-wall; said re- \Vitnesses: ceptacle being composed of sections separable EDWIN HosnA MownN,

in the horizontal plane of the propeller-shaft ROBERT ELLIOTT. 

